Hotel Books‘ heart-wrenchingly poetic album, Equivalency will be released in the UK and Europe on February 9th.
This album, above anything, is a story. Intense, painfully honest, cathartic lyrics broken up by clips of phone calls, mechanical voices, and conversations, which only adds to the experience. You’re taken on a compelling journey, exploring love, fame, and heartbreak.
Lyrically, the album is their most powerful yet. At parts, while the subject-matter may not be the most relatable (how many of us have experienced the almost uncomfortable truths about success in Take Very Little?), they’re striking and emotive enough to make you relate. Cam Smith’s flawless and emotional delivery evokes a powerful emotion in every single song, whether it be despair, fear, hope, love, or a combination – it’s an album that provides an insight into Smith’s life from his lowest to his absolute best.
Just as with past albums, the instrumentation takes a back seat to the intense words expounded over-top, but that’s not to say they aren’t important. Tracks like Fears We Create wouldn’t be anywhere near as wonderful as it is without the orchestration, the driving drums, haunting melodies, and elegant guitar. But this album sees their style expand slightly – whilst sticking to emo roots, elements in Celebration seem almost pop-punk and Where I Am is screamed in a post-hardcore style. Although this may seem like too much of a juxtaposition to their usually calmer and more monotone style of vocal delivery, it works.
Hotel Books are currently touring the US, with more dates around the world to be announced.